| Citation |
BNL.763.029
18 Aug 1763:23 (3113)
To my Christian brethren, I am sorry that any thing should
happen to give occasion to you, or any brother, to be
displeased with me for standing when I sing my prayers. I
desire liberty to give you the reason why I do this: it was
not a sudden think, nor affectation of singularity, that led
into the practice; but the consideration of the reason, as
well as the divine precept and practice of the people of
God, as related in the sacred Scriptures, which also direct
to a reverend posture when we address our superiors, much
more when we address the infinite Majesty of heaven: I know
it is the heart God looks at, and as the apostle under
divine inspiration commands, that we glorify God in our
bodies and our spirits which are his; and how can I glorify
God in my body more than by a reverend posture in my
addresses to him ? When [ ] had told Eglon (the King of
Moab) he had a message to him from the Lord, he rose out of
his seat: We read in Neh. 8.5. when Ezra opened the Book
all the people stood up; and in the 9th chapter, beginning,
we read, the Levites said stand up and bless the Lord. --
134th Psal. -- Bless the Lord ye that stand in the house of
the Lord.---and Psalm 135. 3.--Ye that stand in the house of
the Lord, praise the Lord, sing praises to his name; -- and
great part of David's prayer-book, which we sing, consists
of confession, petition, and thanksgiving, which calls for a
reverend posture when we sing as well as when we speak to
God; and our Lord directs, Mark [ ]vi.25. When you stand
praying forgive: We read, Luke 18.11-13, of the Pharisee
and Publican, they stood and prayed: also we read this to
be the posture of angels and perfected saints in the upper
world, Rev. 7.9, and all nations stood before the throne,
and all the angels, saying, blessing and glory, &c. [ ] 14
Chap. 1--3, they stand and sing the Song of Moses, and the
Lamb. My Brothers, I desire to learn the posture as well as
the song, before I go to join with them and you in singing
the songs of redeeming love and grace, to all eternity. As
to the objection of conforming to the church, I think we may
conform to them in all they can show us reason and scripture
to support: But is it not a greater conformity to read the
Bible in public; to change the good old Version for Tate and
Brady; to sing four times; to leave off reading the lines,
and reading the whole of what we sing; and standing when we
pray at our meals, which things our venerable forefathers
did not practise; and must all these be term'd apostatising
from the ways of God, because our ancestors did not practise
them, when as there is no imperfection on tender consciences
therein, but every person and society may use their liberty
?---W.P.
[written in an early ms.: William Parkman]
(The other piece relating to church officers, must be
deferred.)
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